Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed legislation on Monday that bolsters the area’s protections for “gender-affirming care” and abortions.
Upon signing the legislation, Harrell said, “Seattle is a city where diversity is celebrated, and the LGBTQ+ community is not just accepted, but embraced. The egregious attempts by the Trump administration to target, discriminate, and dehumanize LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender individuals, and strip them of their rights goes directly against our city’s values. This legislation shows our commitment to a Seattle where everyone – regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation – can live openly and be treated with dignity and respect.”
According to a press release on the matter, the legislation “reiterates and affirms the city’s stance as a welcoming and supportive place for LGBTQ+ community members” and “extends Washington State’s ‘Shield Law’ into the municipal code.”
Washington’s “Shield Law” is designed to protect and support access to “reproductive health care, including abortion, as well as gender-affirming care,” a statement from the state’s attorney general’s office says.
The move comes as President Donald Trump signed executive orders recognizing two genders and protecting children from gender mutilation.
FOX 13 asked Harrell if his move to fortify the city’s protections for gender ideology and abortion “puts a target on Seattle’s back.”
Harrell responded, “Is there something on my back?”
“With this community, we’re prepared to fight in an unprecedented way, we are already a target, people here they’ve been a target their whole life….we’re not going to run, we’re not going to stand still like a target, we’re going to fight,” he said.
